Rescue efforts at the Chilime Hydropower Project continued on Friday, with an excavator now only about 15–20 metres away from the suspected site where workers may be trapped.
Rescue operations are underway at the 22-megawatt Chilime Hydropower Project amid concerns that employees working inside the powerhouse may have been trapped.
Former minister Kulman Ghising, who is at the project site, said the excavator is now just 15–20 metres from the rescue site.
“Rescue operations have been underway since 5:30 a.m. The difficult geographical terrain at the rescue site has made the work more complicated, as equipment, cables and other materials have to be transported through the riverbed,” Ghising said.
He said a security team, including personnel from the Nepal Army, has been continuously working inside the powerhouse.
“Although the security personnel and other teams inside the powerhouse have been continuously digging manually, it is likely to take considerable time. Therefore, efforts are being made to bring an excavator from outside to speed up the rescue operation. The excavator is now only 15–20 metres away and is expected to reach the site by this evening,” he said.
According to Ghising, if the excavator and loader can be brought inside the site today, the excavator will create a larger opening and clear the debris to establish an access route.
Once a passage wide enough for people to enter is created, the rescue operation is expected to make significant progress. Ghising said the rescue could potentially be completed within one or two days.
